.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·. Chapter 2. The First Wish and the Encounter with Dante.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

The music in the hall mingled with the murmur of conversation and the glow of the chandeliers. But for Marlene, everything seemed distant; her mind was still vibrating from the accidental brush with Dante Inovov. Her mission demanded calm, but her heart was beating too fast to obey.

[Kira: Okay, human, keep your composure. You already have his attention. Now comes the difficult part: conversing without seeming like a villain.]

Dante was the first to break the silence.

“I didn’t expect Miss Volkov to approach you tonight,” he commented in a deep, elegant voice, but laced with an almost invisible caution.

Marlene smiled with a calculated air, although inside she was trembling.

“It would be impolite to ignore the crown prince at his own reception, wouldn’t it?”

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Few had the courage to address him so casually.

—I suppose not. Although I must admit… there is something different about you tonight.

[Kira: Don’t let him notice the change in Marlene Volkov’s personality, otherwise a forced bad ending will be triggered and you won’t be able to return to your original world.]

[Kira: Be careful! Don’t let him notice Marlene Volkov’s change in personality. If they discover it, a forced bad ending will be triggered and you won’t be able to return to your original world.]

She forced an elegant smile, hiding her nervousness.

—Perhaps it’s just the light in the hall, Your Highness. Sometimes it deceives the eyes.

Dante didn’t respond immediately, but his lips curved into a slight smile, as if he accepted that excuse… though he didn’t quite believe it.

Their eyes met again, intense, almost as if Dante were trying to decipher who she really was. And in that exchange of glances, Marlene felt a surge of heat take over her.

[Quest progress: 70%.]

[Kira: Perfect! Keep him intrigued, let him think of you after you leave. That’s what’s captivating.]

Dante lifted two glasses from a nearby servant’s tray and offered one to her.

“Shall we drink?” he asked, and for the first time, his voice sounded a little less cold, a little more human.

Although Marlene was hesitant, she accepted, raising the glass elegantly.

“To new beginnings, Your Highness.”

The glass clinked softly, and as she drank, Marlene noticed that he was watching her more closely than she would have expected. His proud bearing didn’t change, but his eyes betrayed him: there was curiosity, and perhaps… a spark of loneliness seeking to be reflected in her.

[Unlockable Memory #1 completed.]

A flash crossed Marlene’s mind: a small boy, hiding among the palace gardens, tears in his eyes. Dante, a child, ignored by everyone, hugging a book as if it were his only refuge.

Marlene blinked in surprise. Was that what Kira had promised her? A glimpse of the heart hidden behind the prince’s back.

The system flashed again:

[Side quest activated: Protect Dante’s secret. Reward: Charm +2.]

“Protect his secret… how?” she thought, smiling at the prince as if nothing had happened.

***

The evening continued. Dante, against all odds, didn’t leave her side. They talked about court trivia, the weather, even literature. And although Marlene was no expert in that aristocratic world, she improvised cleverly, surprised at how natural it felt.

[Kira: Not bad for your first quest. It seems the prince is no longer bored by your presence. In fact… I think he’s starting to see you.]

She took a sip of wine to hide the blush on her cheeks. “This is just strategy… right?”

But just as the conversation seemed to be flowing, a new presence burst into the gathering.

Max Smirnov.

The knight protector, dressed in an impeccable uniform, approached with a firm stride and a noble smile. His presence alone seemed to light up the room, attracting the gazes of several nearby ladies. But his clear, warm eyes fixed directly on Marlene.

“Miss Volkov,” he said with a slight gesture of courtesy, “it’s nice to see you here.”

Marlene recognized him immediately. He was no ordinary man, but one of the most loyal knights in the kingdom. His reputation as a protector and nobleman preceded him, and now he looked at her as if he had known her before.

Dante tensed slightly, though he said nothing. His eyes, cold and proud, followed Max’s every movement with discreet attention.

Max inclined his head slightly toward Marlene, ignoring the murmurs of the court.

“Would you allow me to steal a few minutes of conversation after the reception?”

She smiled, surprised by the direct courtesy.

“Of course, Sir Smirnov. It will be a pleasure.”

The air between the three of them was filled with a silent tension. Dante didn’t look away, and for the first time, Marlene sensed that the crown prince wasn’t used to sharing the spotlight.

At that instant, Kira meowed softly again, but her tone was no longer playful, but alert to the player.

[New unexpected quest activated: Choose who to entrust your First truth. Option 1: Dante Inovov. Option 2: Max Smirnov. Reward: Hidden Stat Unlocked.]

Marlene gulped. Her first mission was barely over, and she already had another one coming up. And this one… seemed much more dangerous.

The game was just beginning.

                                                                                                                      ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥to be continued˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥